CHARLOTTE, NC - In an update on this story, featured here, the produce leader has officially recruited 125 runners to participate in one of three events at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon on November 16.
“Dole’s partnership with the Charlotte Marathon simply reinforces what marathoners and other runners everywhere have known for years: Bananas are nature’s perfect pre-, during- and post-race recovery food,” William Goldfield, Dole’s Director of Corporate Communications, said in a previous press release. “In addition to fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and a range of antioxidants, bananas are rich in carbohydrates and a high-energy source that aids in both athletic performance and muscle recovery.”
Dole partnered with Run Charlotte in July to become the Official Banana of the Charlotte Marathon as a way to salute its historic Banana-versary.
As Dole shared in a recent update, the company received an overwhelming number of interested runners within 24 hours and has now shifted its focus to supporting the 125 qualifying participants—as well as runners and fitness enthusiasts everywhere—with pre-race recipes, nutritional advice and reminders of the amazing post-exercise recovery benefits of bananas.
As the official banana provider, Dole will hand out DOLE® Bananas to all runners on Race Day, led by its iconic 7-foot ambassador Bobby Banana. The company is also assembling a Dole Banana Bunch cheering section that will encourage runners on Race Day from a dedicated viewing area.
The produce leader is hosting the Dole Going All Bananas Recovery Tent on Race Day and offering Dole recipes, training tips, and other pre-race resources compiled by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s nutrition, wellness and communications manager, on the DoleRuns webpage. In addition to covering race fees for the Charlotte Marathon, Half-Marathon, or Chick-fil-A 5K, Dole will ask the 125 runners to don an official DoleRuns Charlotte Marathon run shirt.
On your mark, ready, set—click back to ANUK as we continue to dole out more Banana-versary updates.
